Integrated Market Enforcement Teams

Overview

Investor confidence is crucial to the efficient functioning of Canada’s capital markets and to the economy as a whole. In order for the Canadian economy to grow and maintain its competitiveness with other countries, it is important for investors to have confidence in Canadian capital markets and publicly traded companies. IMETs, through their investigative function, help deter and detect capital market fraud which in turn, enhances investor confidence.

What is an IMET?

An Integrated Market Enforcement Team (IMET) is a group of highly specialized investigators dedicated to ensuring that those who commit serious capital markets fraud offences will be discovered, investigated, prosecuted, and incarcerated in an effective and timely fashion.

The IMET investigative pool may be comprised of:

• RCMP investigators,
• Public Prosecution Service of Canada legal advisors,
• securities regulators,
• representatives of other federal enforcement agencies,
• law enforcement agencies of local jurisdiction,
• forensic accountants, and
• various support staff.

Types of offences investigated

IMETs are dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of serious Criminal Code of Canada capital markets fraud offences that are of national significance and involve actions by publicly-traded companies that pose a genuine threat to investor confidence in Canada’s capital markets and economic stability.

Case selection

Case selections are based on referrals from the RCMP’s Commercial Crime sections and other police forces across Canada. Cases are also forwarded through the RCMP’s web-based Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. The IMETs also receive valuable input and referrals from our partner agencies such as the provincial securities commissions, other self-regulatory agencies ('SRO's), and the public.

Although a single case may not appear significant at first glance, other investors or members of the public may be making similar complaints which begin to identify trends and may assist an IMET in planning future investigations.

How IMETs are contributing to Canada’s economic stability

Please refer to the Newsroom section for the latest information.